Tag: road pricing

Proposals adopted by the Commission yesterday (8 July) could see road haulage costs rise even further than they have already as a result of the hike in fuel prices. They aim to reduce the sector's negative impact on the environment, although green groups say the plans remain weak.

As 771 European cities prepare to launch the 2006 European Mobility week, Stockholm’s inhabitants must vote on a system of road tolls aimed at reducing traffic in the city centre.

The Parliament has sealed a compromise with EU states to harmonise the way truck tolls can be levied on European roads. The bill seeks to take greater account of the environmental and social impacts of heavy road freight.

In its draft Directive, tabled in July 2002, the Commission proposes to create a separate tax category for commercial diesel fuel, with a single level of excise duty applicable from 2010. At the same time, the minimum tax rates on petrol and diesel for non-commercial purposes are to be aligned. The proposal aims to confront transport users with the real costs ("polluter pays" principle), while creating equal conditions for competition among the EU's road haulage and passenger transport industries.

By the end of this quarter, the Commission is expected to come forward with new plans to set up a harmonised system for electronic toll-paying on European motorways. The proposal is to come out at the same time as the long-awaited Communication on infrastructure charging, which will propose a common methodology for calculating fair charging levels for all modes of transport, including road transport.